Winter Interest Plants

Girard's Pleasant White Azalea

Trumpet-shaped flowers are white with a faint green-toned throat Flowers are profuse enough to almost hide the leaves Mounding, rounded habit when mature Bloom Time: Spring Group: Girard Type: Evergreen

Girard's Hot Shot Azalea

Orange-red trumpet-shaped flowers cover the plant Flowers are profuse enough to almost hide the leaves Mounding, rounded habit when mature Bloom Time: Spring Group: Girard Type: Evergreen

Girard's Fuchsia Azalea

Bright fuchsia-pink coloured ruffled flowers Dark green foliage Small, compact form Bloom Time: Spring Group: Girard Type: Evergreen

Rock Cress

AKA Aubrietia deltoides Deep blue flowers above mat-forming foliage Well suited for rock walls or rock gardens Bloom Time: Early to late spring

Hart's Tongue Fern

AKA Phyllitis scolopendrium, Scolopendrium vulgare Low, upward-growing clumps of glossy narrow strap-like leathery leaves Edges are often wavy On leaf undersides, spores darken with age in a herring-bone format Evergreen fronds remain lush throughout the winter Black, wiry, shallow roots

Showy Ginger

Vigorous and easy to grow Large heart-shaped leaves with silver marbling Purple flowers are hidden by the foliage Evergreen in mild winters Bloom Time: Late spring

Thrift

Globe-shaped lavender-mauve flower clusters Tufts of deep green grass-like foliage Bloom Time: Spring-Autumn

Red-leaved Sea Thrift

Tufts of foliage resemble turfgrass Foliage is burgundy in the spring and fall, fading to dark green in the warmer months Globe-shaped hot pink flower clusters form a layer of colour above the semi-evergreen foliage Plant will slowly spread into surrounds if soil is dry enough Bloom Time: Mid to late spring, persisting into the summer Flower Height: 40 cm

Thrift

Globe-shaped hot pink flower clusters Tufts of deep green grass-like foliage Suitable for rock gardens, rooftop gardens and walls Salt tolerant Bloom Time: Mid to late spring

Sea Thrift

White pom-pom flowers Dense evergreen cushion of green needle-like leaves Bloom Time: Late spring

Mountain Sandwort

White 5-petaled flowers with yellow throats Thin glossy deep green semi-evergreen leaves Excellent between stones in walkways Bloom Time: Late spring

Bearberry

AKA Arbutus uva-ursi Other Common Names: Pine Mat, Mealberry, Hog Cranberry, Sandberry Evergreen ground cover with small white, pink-edged bell-shaped flowers Small berries appear in the fall and often last through the winter Leaves turn greenish-bronze in the fall Bearberry has peeling red bark for added interest Very salt tolerant Bloom Time: Spring

Wall Cress

Fragrant white flowers Foliage forms a low mound of semi-evergreen foliage Suitable for rock gardens or walls Easy to grow perennial Bloom Time: Early to late spring

Wall Cress

Fragrant deep pink flowers Forms a low mound of gray-green leaves Semi-evergreen foliage Suitable for rock gardens or walls Easy to grow perennial Bloom Time: Early to late spring

Rock Cress

Deep pink flowers Foliage forms a compact mound of semi-evergreen foliage Suitable for rock gardens or walls Easy to grow perennial Bloom Time: Early to late spring

Pink Pussytoes

Evergreen perennial that hugs the ground Silvery-green foliage bears tiny pink flowers on short stems Perfect for the rock garden or along and between walkways Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Pussytoes

Evergreen perennial that hugs the ground Silvery-green foliage bears tiny pale pink or white flowers on short stems Perfect for the rock garden or along and between walkways Bloom Time: April to June

Big Blue Stem

Foliage emerges deep green with red highlights in the spring Leaves turn a reddish-bronze with lavender tones in autumn Deep burgundy-purple three-pronged seed heads are held on sturdy stems Bloom Time: September into winter Flower Height: 200 cm Foliage Height: 150 cm Grass Type: Warm Season

Big Blue Stem

Dense, slightly arching clump of blue-green leaves Leaves turn a bronze-red in the fall and colour remains through the winter months Three-pronged burgundy-purple seed heads are held on sturdy stems Seed heads start to appear in late summer and persist through fall Bloom Time: Early autumn into winter Flower Height: 200 cm Foliage Height: 150 cm Grass Type: Warm Season

Blue Ice Bog Rosemary

Clusters of drooping pink urn-shaped flowers Ice-blue needle-like foliage keeps its colour all year Slow-growing with a low spreading habit Bloom Time: Early spring

Bergy Bit® Bog Rosemary

Dense compact habit Silvery-blue needle-like foliage throughout the year Nodding white bell flowers appear in spring

Mountain Gold Alyssum

A popular rock garden plant Rich yellow fragrant flowers Forms a low trailing mound of silvery-gray foliage Semi-evergreen Bloom Time: Spring

Chocolate Vine

Small clusters of chocolate-purple flowers Pendant flowers open slightly before the foliage emerges Spicy-scented flowers contain both male and female parts Purple fruit pods, 10 cm in length, open in the fall to reveal small black seeds Semi-evergreen foliage with five distinct oblong leaflets Green to bluish-green foliage Bloom Time: Late April

Bugleweed

Miniature, narrow, chocolate-brown leaves Full sun exposure deepens the foliage colour Spikes of bright blue flowers Very useful between stepping stones No serious disease or insect problems Bloom Time: Spring

Bugleweed

Attractive, crinkled leaves of grayish-green with white variegation Spikes of blue flowers The foliage will turn burgundy in the fall Bloom Time: Spring

Bugleweed

Dense carpet of bronzy-green foliage Deep blue flower spikes Semi-evergreen foliage Fast-growing cultivar of ajuga Good plant for stabilizing soil on slopes Bloom Time: April to May

Bugleweed

Foliage has shades of pink, white, green and bronze Produces spikes of bright blue flowers Works well in small, area plantings Mature leaves turn burgundy in the fall Bloom Time: May to June

Bugleweed

Compact, mounded habit with bronze foliage Blue-purple flower spikes Vigorous habit with evergreen foliage Good plant for stabilizing soil on slopes Bloom Time: Spring to early summer

Pyramidal Bugleweed

AKA Ajuga cristata, or Ajuga 'Mini Crisp Red' Deeply pleated glossy leaves of dark green and burgundy Royal-blue spikes of flowers Slower growing than other cultivars of ajugas Compact plant, good for rock gardens and for edging Semi-evergreen foliage Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer

Grassy-leaved Sweet Flag

Variegated green and golden-yellow grass-like foliage Insignificant green flowers Evergreen to semi-evergreen foliage Grown for its dwarf clump-forming habit Foliage and rhizomes emit a citrus scent when crushed or bruised Bloom Time: Late spring

Yarrow

Dwarf, carpet-forming cultivar of yarrow, suitable for rock gardens Compact fuzzy grey-green foliage Yellow flowers Foliage remains through the winter Bloom Time: Early summer

Rugged Ridge® Maple

Vigorous, upright, oval habit Dark green leaves turn yellow in the fall Deeply furrowed corky bark Tough and adaptable with a straight leader

Prostrate Blue Noble Fir

Slow-growing prostrate spreading evergreen Soft silvery-blue needles May produce multiple leaders with age

Dwarf Korean Fir

Very compact, mounding evergreen Short, dark-green needles with white winter buds Very slow growing, approximately 2.5 cm per year

Miniature Korean Fir

Dwarf, compact habit Two-toned green and white needles Slow-growing 3-5cm per year

Silver Korean Fir

Upright broadly pyramidal conifer New foliage emerges shiny-silver held in whorls Needles will fade to sea-green with a prominent silver band Purple cones grow upright and disintegrate while still on the plant

Korean Fir

Slow-growing compact pyramidal fir Glossy medium-green needles with silver undersides Purple cones grow upright and disintegrate while still on the plant Lends itself to both specimen or group plantings

Fraser Fir

Slender specimen with an overall pyramidal shape Horizontal branch structure with glossy, dark green needles Underside of the needle displays two silver bands Lends itself to both specimen or group plantings A popular cut Christmas tree

Blue Cloak White Fir

Dwarf conifer with powder-blue foliage Upright, full-bodied, pyramidal form A strong central leader with upward-arching branches that become pendulous with maturity. Slow-growing

White Fir

A large conical specimen with a stately appearance Large silvery-blue blunt needles Purple cones grow upright and disintegrate while still on the plant Cones appear on younger branches of older specimens Use as a stand-alone specimen or in sets of threes or fives in a larger landscape Withstands heat and drought better than most firs

Piccolo Dwarf Balsam Fir

A very dwarf globe with short, nearly vertical branches Radiating, dark green needles Showy brown buds add winter interest Works well in rock gardens, mixed borders, or patio planters

Dwarf Balsam Fir

Rounded with laterally-spreading dense branches Dark green needles have white bands on their undersides Slow-growing dwarf

Balsam Fir

Grows in a pyramidal, open habit Needles are emerald-green One of the most aromatic of all firs Purple cones grow upright and disintegrate while still on the plant May benefit from light pruning and shaping when young to develop into a specimen plant

Coral Bells

Upright stems with panicles of small pink flowers aging darker pink Mounding silvery evergreen leaves feature green veins Bloom Time: Early summer to mid-fall Foliage height: 25 cm Flower Height: 60 cm 

Goldilocks Japanese White Pine

Irregular semi-upright growth habit Unique blue needles are brushed with creamy-yellow Foliage overwinters a blue-green colour Slow-growing

Stowe Pillar Eastern White Pine

Dense blue-green foliage with a very narrow habit Slow-growing columnar pine Tight branching makes it more resistant to branch breakage

Repanda Juniper

Dense, prostrate growing habit Dark green awl-like needles with a silver stripe in the centre Foliage turns a bronze colour in the winter Use as a ground cover plant in a low-maintenance landscape

Big Time White Lavender

Large spikes of white flowers on sturdy stems Scented compact gray-green foliage Uniform and compact shrub-like habit Can be shaped for low border hedges Bloom Time: June to August Flower Height: 50 cm Flower Size: 4-5 cm